Container construction and blank therefor



Sept. 29, 1970 J, P, FISCHER 3,530,635

CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION AND BLANK THEREFOR Original Filed July 21, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I l um I 4 "a 2 20 l i I '/4 I5 i I v i '1 l '14 a 1 Q 1h" WI". /a@ 174 um ll lln. Illllllll @1 A NIE 1!,

United States Patent CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION AND BLANK THEREFOR John Peter Fischer, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Packaging Corporation of America, Evanstou, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 645,536, June 12, 1967, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 473,747, July 21, 1965. This application Sept. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 767,037

Int. Cl. B65b 43/39 U.S. Cl. 53-29 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsed tubular carton blank for an end loading carton comprising top, bottom and side panels, the fold connection between the top panel and one side panel being formed by exposed rendable means, and end flaps connected to such panels, the top and bottom end flaps being of a combined length substantially greater than the width of the side panels, and the side end flaps cooperating with the bottom end flaps to form end walls having pockets open upward for the top end flaps. The blank is erected to open-ended, tubular form, the product is inserted endwise thereinto, and the respective end flaps are closed by closing the side end flaps, then the top end flap, and finally the bottom end flap, each bottom end flap being closed over and overlying a portion of the respective top end flap to confine such portion of the top end flap in the respective pocket.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 645,536, filed June 12, 1967, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 437,747, filed July 21, 1965, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a container and blank there for and more particularly to an end-loading type of foldable container used for transporting or storing a plurality of prepackaged items, such as canned fruits or vegetables, boxes of frozen comestibles, etc.

Various containers for such use have heretofore been provided; however, because of certain design characteristics they are awkward and diflicult to open, normally requiring a knife or some other type of sharp tool to open and thus subject the container contents to possible damage by said knife or tool; do not expose the entire top area of the container interior, when the container top is open; and/or the blank is of a complicated and costly configuration and not readily capable of being set up by conventional automatic equipment.

Thus, it is one of the objects of this invention to provide an improved container which is not beset with the the above-noted shortcomings associated with prior structures.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved container which is capable of assuming a compact, collapsed, tubular configuration when not in use and thus, to enable a large number of collapsed containers to be readily stored or transported as a unit without occupying a large area.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved container having a reclosable top.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved container having a top or cover which may be readily opened, and when in open position, enables the container contents to be readily exposed and removed, when desired.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

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In accordance with one embodiment of this invention a container is provided comprising a bottom, side walls foldably connected to the periphery of said bottom and extending upwardly therefrom, and a top having one side thereof foldably connected to the upper edge of one of said side walls. Foldably connected to opposite ends of said bottom and side walls are end closure flaps. The end closure flaps cooperate with one another to form end pockets having open upper sides. Foldably connected to opposite ends of the top are tuck flaps folded downwardly and disposed within said end pockets. The top has the side thereof opposite said one side, initially secured to the upper edge of the other side wall by a rendable means.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be made to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one form of the improved blank, and showing in dotted lines at one side of the blank the inclusion of an optional rendable glue flap;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, on reduced scale, of the improved container in a collapsed tubular configuration and with a rendable tape being exposed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the improved container in condition for end loading;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but showing the improved container in fully loaded condition ready for shipment or storage;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 but showing the top in a partially open condition; and

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 but showing the top in its fully open condition whereby the contents of the container are exposed for marking prior to being removed therefrom for stacking the individual contents on a shelf or the like.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, one form of an improved blank 10 is shown, which is constructed of foldable sheet material, such as double-faced corrugated fibreboard. The illustrated blank 10 includes a pair of side wall panels 11 and .12, which in this instance are of like configuration. Disposed intermediate panels 11 and 12 is a bottom panel 13. The opposite elongated edges of panel 13 are connected to panels 11 and 12 by foldlines 14 and 15, respectively.

Also connected to panel 12 by foldline 16 is a top panel 17. Panels 13 and 17, in the illustrated embodiment, are of like configuration. In one form of the improved blank, a manufacturers glue flap 18, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, may be provided which is foldably connected to the outer edge of either panel 11 or 17. In instances where a flap 18 is utilized, the latter is rendable from the panel 17 or the exposed surface of panel 11 to which it is secured when the blank is set up to form the improved container 19.

Foldably connected to the opposite ends of panels 11, 12, 13 and 17 are end closure flaps Ila-b, 1211-11, 13a-b, and 17a-b, respectively. The foldlines 20 for flaps 11a, 13a, 12a and 17a are in axial alignment and disposed in transverse relation with respect to foldlines 14, 15 and 16. In a similar manner the foldlines 21 connecting the closure flaps 11b, 13b, 12b and 17b are in axial alignment with one another and are in spaced substantially parallel relation with respect to foldlines 20.

It will be noted in FIG. 1 that closure or tuck flaps 17a and b each have the narrow sides thereof extending convergently outwardly from the respective foldlines 20 and 21. The reason for the particular configuration of flaps 17a and b will become apparent from the description hereinafter. The length of each closure flap, that is the dimension taken normal to the foldline 20 or 21, is substantially the same. It is important, for reasons to be hereinafter discussed, that the length of each flaps 13a and b be less than the length of the foldline and 21 connecting flaps 12a and b to panel 12.

In setting up the container, panel 17 and the closure flaps 17a and b therefor, are folded as a unit about foldline 16, and panel 11 and closure flaps 11a and b therefor are also folded as a unit about foldline 14, so as to form a collapsed tubular member, see FIG. 2. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 a tape 22 is then applied so as to interconnect the abutting or adjoining edges of panels 11 and 17. The container is normally stored by or transported to the customer in its collapsed tubular form.

During the loading operation, the collapsed tubular member is erected to the form shown in FIG. 3. In such form, the opposite ends of the container remain open, whereupon canned goods, cereal or cake mix boxes, etc. are inserted endwise into the container.

Once the container contents has been properly located therein the end closure flaps are then folded. In folding the closure flaps, flaps 11a12a, and 11b-12b are first folded inwardly toward one another, as seen more clearly in FIG. 6. Flaps 17a and b are then folded downwardly into overlying relation with respect to the previously folded flaps Ila-12a and 11b12b, respectively. Flaps 13a and b are then folded upwardly into overlying relation with respect to flaps 17ab and 11a-12a and 11b-12b. Flaps 13a and b are secured only to the respective flaps 11a-12a and 11b-12b. If flaps 13a and b are to be secured to flaps 11a-12a and 11b-12b by adhesive, it is important that the adhesive be applied to the flaps 13a and b in such a pattern that a pocket 23 is formed at each end of the container, see FIG. 4. Pocket 23 has an open upper end which is less than the width of the end wall formed by the closure flaps. In place of adhesive, flaps 13a and b may be secured to the respective flaps Ila-12a and 11b-12b by staples, tapes, or the like. In any case, however, care should be exercised to insure that a suitable pocket is formed at each end.

Pocket 23 has an open upper side, as seen in FIG. 4 and is of sufficient depth so as to permit the narrow outer edge portion of the respective flap 17a-b to project therein a substantial amount. Under any circumstances it is important that the combined lengths of flaps 13a and 17a and 13b and 17b be substantially greater than the height of the container so as to insure that flaps 17a or 17b is substantially overlapped by flaps 13a or 13b when the ends of the container are closed.

To open the closed container, FIG. 4, the center portion 22a of tape 22 is torn. To facilitate such tearing, a pair of short slits 22b are formed at one end of the tape, see FIG. 4. The slits are in spaced parallel relation so that the portion 22a between the slits forms a suitable finger tab. Thus to open the container no knife or similar tool is required and therefore possible damage to the container contents during opening of the container is avoided.

When the container is fully open, as shown in FIG. 6, all of the contents thereof, or at least the upper layer of the contents will be exposed, whereby the contents may be marked or stamped with the selling price prior to the contents being removed from the container and placed upon a selling shelf or display stand.

Because the closure or tuck flaps 17a and b are insertable within the respective end wall pockets, the top or cover panel 17 is readily reclosable.

The shape and size of the improved container 19 may vary from that shown without departing from the scope of this invention. The configuration of the container will depend in large measure upon the type of product being packaged therein. In the event a glue fiap 18 is utilized in place of tape 22, the flap 18 will be adhesively secured to the exposed surface of side wall panel 11. The adhesive bond between the flap 18 and panel 11 should be such that flap 18 may be pulled apart by hand. In a further modified form, flap 18 may have a rendable adhesive-free portion located between the foldline for the panel 17 and the flap 18 and the outer portion of flap 18. The adhesive-free portion of the flap 18 is severable from the outer portion by a weakened line which is readily tearable.

Thus it will be seen that an improved foldable container has been provided which is of sturdy construction, is capable of being readily set up when desired, and is also capable of being easily opened without requiring the use of any tool.

While several embodiments of this invention have been described above, further modifications maybe made thereto and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A method of forming a package from a foldable fiberboard blank including first and second side wall panels, a bottom panel disposed intermediate said side 'wall panels and foldably connected thereto, a top panel foldably connected to said first side wall panel along the edge thereof opposite that connected to said bottom pane, and end closure flaps foldably connected to the corresponding opposite ends of said side wall, bottom and top panels, the combined dimensions of the corresponding top end flap and bottom end flap taken normal to the fold lines for said end flaps being substantially greater than the dimension of each of said side wall panels taken normal to the fold lines between said side wall panels and said top and bottom panels, the end flaps connected to said top panel each having the side edges thereof converging outwardly from the ends of said top panel, comprising the steps of folding said blank to juxtapose said top panel and one of said side wall panels over said bottom panel and the other of said side wall panels, foldably joining the distal edges of said top panel and said second side wall panel to form a collapsed tubular blank, erecting said blank to open-ended tubular container form, inserting the product to be packaged into said erected tubular container endwise thereof and closing the respective end closure flaps at each end of said erected container by closing said flaps connected to said side wall panels, folding said flap connected to said top panel over the previously closed flaps connected to said side wall panels, and maintaining said flap in unattached relation to portions of said blank other than its foldable connection to said top panel, closing said flap connected to said bottom panel over the previously closed flaps with a portion thereof overlying said flap connected to said top panel, and securing said last closed flap only to portions of said blank other than said flap connected to said top panel whereby said last-mentioned flap remains free for withdrawal from between the other of said end closure flaps when said top panel is moved upward to open said package.

2. A method as in claim 1 including foldably joining said top panel and said second side panel by exposed elongated rendable means extending substantially the full length of said second side wall panel.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein the dimension of each of said top end flaps and each of said bottom end flaps taken normal to the fold lines for said end flaps is substantially less than the dimension of said side wall panels taken normal to the fold lines between said side wall panels and said top and bottom panes.

4. A method as in claim 1 including applying adhesive to each of said flaps connected to said bottom panel prior to closure thereof, said adhesive being applied in a pattern to contact the respective flaps connected to said side walls and to avoid contact with the respective flap connected to said top panel when such adhesive bearing flap is closed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,298,287 l/1967 Peterson et al.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner g gy UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,530,635 Dated September 29, 1970 Im entur(s) John Peter Fischer it: is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1 line 35, after "1967" insert now abandoned line 53, delete "the" line,- 59, delete "to" before enable Column 2, line 72, "flaps' should read flap Column 3, line 44, "flaps should read flap line 45, "flaps" should read flap Column 4, line 20, claim 1, "pane" should read panel line 62, claim 3, "panes" should read panels SIGNH? AND QEALEU was-4m (SEAL) v Afloat: f, Edmfm'mmhm It. 3 mm! s, m. Aweatmg Offic r Oomissionor of Patents 

